The Intel 4004: a programmable processor on one chip

What changed

The Intel and Busicom project realized a programmable four-bit CPU within the MCS-4 chip set. Integrating processor functions on one chip helped make general programmable electronics accessible to smaller systems.

Scientific scope

The Intel and Busicom project realized a programmable four-bit CPU within the MCS-4 chip set. Integrating processor functions on one chip helped make general programmable electronics accessible to smaller systems. Scope limitation: The 4004 needed other components to form a complete system. The record preserves four documented engineering contributors without claiming a complete roster or settling every competing microprocessor priority claim.

Evidence

Assessment uses the catalogue-linked source evidence for the stated contribution. The 4004 needed other components to form a complete system. The record preserves four documented engineering contributors without claiming a complete roster or settling every competing microprocessor priority claim.

Contributors

• Federico Faggin · SCIENCE: Named source contributor; exact labor shares are not measured.
• Marcian E. Hoff · SCIENCE: Named source contributor; exact labor shares are not measured.
• Stanley Mazor · SCIENCE: Named source contributor; exact labor shares are not measured.
• Masatoshi Shima · SCIENCE: Named source contributor; exact labor shares are not measured.

• Intel: Announcing a New Era of Integrated Electronics

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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